Hardaway Charged With Misdemeanor

December 15, 2000

PARADISE VALLEY, Ariz. (AP) _ Prosecutors filed a criminal charge Thursday against Phoenix Suns guard Penny Hardaway, who is accused of threatening and intimidating his girlfriend with a handgun last month.

The misdemeanor charge was filed by the Paradise Valley Town Attorney’s Office. Police investigated the incident as domestic violence because Hardaway and Latarsha McCray have an 8-year-old daughter. The two do not live together.

Prosecutors said the charge against Hardaway is punishable by up to six months in jail and a $2,500 fine if he’s convicted.

``I have done absolutely nothing wrong,″ Hardaway said in a statement. ``There are two sides to this story and in this case, the allegations surrounding my actions have been misrepresented. I am confident that my name will be cleared once the facts are carefully evaluated.″

In a complaint filed Nov. 20, McCray said she and Hardaway had been arguing and she left his house to go sleep in a vehicle outside. She said he came outside and yelled at her while carrying a gun at his side.

Hardaway had flown McCray in from Memphis, Tenn., in an attempt to reconcile their relationship.

McCray told police that although Hardaway did not verbally threaten her, she felt intimidated because he was armed.

``The statements of Ms. McCray were persuasive, indicating that she did feel in fear due to the display of the gun,″ Paradise Valley Town Attorney Andrew Miller said.

Hardaway has yet to play this season. He underwent surgery on his left knee in May.